Science

Processed meats, including hot dogs and bacon, cook in a frying pan. A new study of 80,000 people finds that those who ate the most red meat — especially processed meats such as bacon and hot dogs — had a higher risk of premature death compared with t

The Swap: Less Processed Meat, More Plant-Based Foods May Boost Longevity

6:44pm June 12, 2019

by Allison Aubrey

A new study of 80,000 people finds that those who ate the most red meat — especially processed meats such as bacon and hot dogs — had a higher risk of premature death compared with those who ate less.

Michigan State University doctoral student Mike Morrison has a redesign for scientific posters to spell out their main point in big, easy-to-read letters.

To Save The Science Poster, Researchers Want To Kill It And Start Over

5:34pm June 11, 2019

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Scientists often share their latest research on posters displayed at big conferences. Posters are a long-standing tradition, but one reformer says they're mostly terrible and need to change.

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Science

How A Bird Became Flightless Through Evolution — Twice

5:25pm June 11, 2019

by Irina Zhorov

More than 100,000 years ago, a bird flew from Madagascar to an island chain, where it lost the ability to fly. The seas rose and then fell and the bird flew back, only to become flightless again.

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How Safe Is Sunscreen And How Much Should We Wear?

4:43pm June 11, 2019

NPR's Audie Cornish talks with Trisha Calvo of Consumer Reports about a study that finds the active ingredients in sunscreen may be absorbed into the bloodstream.

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We Drink Basically The Same Wine As Ancient Romans — And That's Not So Great

4:52pm June 10, 2019

by Susie Neilson

Many of today's most popular wine varieties are extremely genetically similar to wines that may have existed for thousands of years, a new study finds. In the face of climate change, that's risky.

Jeannine sorts through a binder of writing assignments from her therapy. In keeping a journal about her past experiences with pain, she noticed that the pain symptoms began when she was around 8 — a time of escalating family trauma at home.

Can You Reshape Your Brain's Response To Pain?

4:02pm June 10, 2019

by Patti Neighmond

Changing how the mind reacts to pain can reduce the discomfort experienced, according to scientists who study brain pathways that regulate pain. A new type of therapy aims to enhance that effect.

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The Limits Of Human Endurance

8:44am June 09, 2019

How do you study the upper limits of human endurance? Professor Herman Pontzer of Duke University tracked long-distance athletes running across the country. He talks with NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro.

Floodwaters from the Arkansas River line either side of a road in Russellville, Arkansas, engulfing businesses and vehicles.

'We All Owe Al Gore An Apology': More People See Climate Change In Record Flooding

10:19am June 08, 2019

by Nathan Rott

Research shows that more people are linking climate change to extreme weather events, like the ongoing flooding in America's heartland. Experts are hoping that also inspires action.

Many People Living In Flood-Prone Areas Can't Afford Expensive Flood Insurance

4:24pm June 07, 2019

by Rebecca Hersher

Federal flood insurance has become dramatically more expensive in some places, putting it out of reach for many people who live on floodplains.

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Science

Ladybug Swarm Makes The Radar

5:33am June 07, 2019

A mass of ladybugs showed up on the radar of the National Weather Service in Southern California this week.